Brake hanger retainer



June 21, 1938. M. s. JOHNSON 2,121,248

BRAKE HANGER RETAINER Filed Nov. 14, 1936 Patented June 21, 1938 UNITED LPSTLATES BRAKE HANGER. RETAINER. Malcolm S. Johnson, Chicago, Ill.-, assignor to Illinois Railway Equipment Company,

cago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application November 14, 1936; SerialNoL 110,842

8 Claims.

My invention relates to'means whereby'the brake hangers of railroad cars are pendently supported and retained in place in the sockets formed by the laterally disposed brackets or arms generallyformed integral with the truck frame; my improved retainer being more especially adapted for use with the link type of brake hanger at present employed.

The invention has forits object the provision of means which maybe easily assembled and readily removed, when occasion requires, and whereby proper brake-shoe key clearance will be provided during brake-shoe replacement, and thehangers or links will be held in proper polo sition.

means; the different parts of said means being adapted to compensate for variations in the di mensions of the bracket opening.

The foregoing enumerated objects and ad- Vantagesof my invention, as wellas other advantages inherent in the construction, will be :more readily comprehended from the detailed description of the accompanying drawing,

wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the supporting arm or bracket of the truck frame, a portion of io the truck frame being shown in section, with the lower'part of the link or hanger bro-ken away and my-improved retainer means secured in' place.

Figure 2 is a Vertical sectional View taken along "the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the link-en- .jgaging side or inner face of one member of the retainer means.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the socket or outer endportionof the supporting arm of the truck frame.

55": The retainer' consists of a pair of-comp end of portion I 4 toward the other.

tary members Ill identical in construction and adapted to be arranged in superposed relation to provide a suitable jchannel to receive one end of a hanger H therebetween; the superposed members ll] being intended to be inserted intothesocket I2 formed in the extension or arm l3 whichis generally formed integral with the truck frame a portion of which is shown at A.

The brake beam hanger pocket or socket 12; at the free end of the laterally disposed arm 13, is formed by the vertically spaced portions 'or walls l4, Hi. The longitudinal edge of the portion [4 on its inner surface is provided with a flange or transverse shoulder l6 which tapers or increases in transverse dimensions from one This flange It, at an intermediate point, is shown provided with an enlargement or boss I! extending inwardly toward the closed side of the pocket I2. see Figure 5. The longitudinal'edge of the other portion or walll5 is also provided with a flange or shoulder 1B, which also tapers or increases in transverse dimensions like shoulder IE, but the taper is inthe opposite direction from the taper of shoulder l6, as shown in Figure5.

The pocket l2 the arm I3, in addition to receiving the link or hanger ll, is also intended to receive the link or hanger retaining means consisting of a pair of plates or members l0, H) which are identical in construction. The construction of these plates is more clearly shown in Figure 4 where the hanger receiving side of the plate is shown with one longitudinal edge of the plate curving toward the hanger receiving side as shown at 19, to constitute one side or wall of the semi-cylindrical groove whose opposite side or wall is formed by the longitudinal rib 2|.

The rib 2| at one end of the plate terminates in the laterally disposed ear or lobe 22 provided" with a suitable bolt-receiving hole 23. The 1ongitudinal rib 2! is arranged a slight distance removed from thelongitudinal edge 24 of the plate I and this distance increases toward one end because the transverse width of the plate increases toward the end provided with the lobe or ear 22-. As a result themember is provided with a tapering or sloping longitudinal edge-24 which corresponds in degree of slope: or taper to the, taper of the shoulders I 6 and It in thevsocket: or pocket l2 of the bracket arm I3. I i

The longitudinal side- 24," intermediate of the ends of the plate, is also provided with an indentation or socket 25 of dimensions sufficient I to receive the enlargement or boss l'l when the plate is inserted in the pocket I2; the boss I! and socket 25 providing an interlocking engagement with the particular member l which contacts the walls of socket l2 provided with boss II.

This causes the said member to be held against lengthwise movement during insertion of the other member ID and allows a binding relation between both members In to be effected.

In assembling my improved retainer means, one member ID, with the upper end of the hanger in its groove 20, is first inserted in the pocket or socket I2 of the supporting arm l3; the member l0 being positioned so that the enlargement or boss ll on the lower wall of pocket I2 is in register with and enters the socket 25 in the longitudinal side 24 of the member Ill. This causes an interlocking engagement whereby the proper position of the initially inserted member I 0 is determined and sliding movement of the member lengthwise of the pocket prevented. After the lower member with the superposed hanger II is in place as described, the second or upper member ID is then inserted endwisely into the pocket with the narrow portion of the longitudinal side or flange 24 initially entering the pocket.

The gradually increasing lateral flanges of the two members cooperating with the oppositely tapering flanges on the upper and lower walls of the pocket or socket, will cause the two superposed members to be forced toward the rear or inner side of the pocket or socket.

The superposed relation of the two members I0 and the wedging of said members toward the rear or inner side of the socket is controlled and effected through the action of the nut 26 screwing lengthwise of bolt 21 which latter is inserted through the apertures 23 in the lobes 22 of the superposed members l0, l0.

As previously stated, the two members l0, l0

are identical in construction and, therefore, when arranged in the superposed relation, namely with the grooved face 20, of the bottom member disposed upwardly, the lobe 22 of said bottom member will be located at the right as viewed in Figure 1, while the lobe 22 of the upper member l0,

when its grooved side 20 is facing downwardly as in Figure 4 will be located at the left as viewed in Figure 1. That is to say, the lobes of the two members will be located at opposite ends of the socket or pocket l2. It is apparent from this arrangement that the screwing up of nuts 26 against one lobe or ear 22 brings the head of bolt 21 against the other lobe or ear and exerts pressure on the superposed plates in opposite longitudinal directions and induces a snug relation between the tapered flanges 24 of the members l0 and the tapered flanges l6 and I8 on the Walls of the pocket or socket I2, with the result that vibration and chattering of the retainers are prevented.

With both members I 0 identical in construction any wear that may take place on the lowermost member ID (the member which carries the hanger and weight of the brake mechanism) can be taken up by reversing the members with the result that the brake mechanism will always be maintained at the proper elevation required for effective braking operation.

With my improved retainer wherein the superposed members, through the action of the tapered flanges, are wedged toward the rear of the socket, compensation for variations in the dimensions of the pocket or socket is afforded and means for holding the superposed members tight- 1X31!) the;brackets is, also provided.

With my improved retainer means shown and described, greater clearance for the brake shoe key is provided during brake shoe replacement, because the need for perpendicularly disposed bolts as heretofore employed is eliminated.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiment of the invention, although it may be possible to somewhat modify the particular construction shown without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A brake hanger retainer comprising, in combination with a truck frame provided with vertically spaced laterally disposed lugs, the outer ends of the lugs on their opposing faces being each provided with a tapering flange, the flanges of the lugs tapering in opposite directions; a pair of complemental members arranged in superposed relation between said lugs and each being grooved longitudinally to combinedly provide a hanger receiving socket, the members having oppositely tapering flanges adapted to engage the tapering flanges of said lugs, each member having a laterally disposed apertured lobe; and means adapted to extend through the apertures of the lobes and tend to cause the tapered flanges of the members to move lengthwise of the tapered flanges of said lugs and thereby force the complemental members toward the inner ends of said lugs.

2. A brake hanger retainer comprising, in combination with a truck frame having a horizontally disposed pocket open at one side and both ends, the upper and lower walls of the pocket on their opposing faces being flanged, the flange of the upper wall increasing in horizontal thickness in a direction opposite to the increase in thickness of the flange on the lower wall, one of the flanges being provided with a laterally disposed abutment; a pair of complemental members arranged in superposed relation in said pocket, each member being longitudinally grooved on one face to combinedly provide a hanger-receiving socket, said members having oppositely tapering flanges adapted to engage respectively the tapering flanges on the upper and lower walls of said pocket, said members being socketed to receive said abutment in the pocket to hold the members against lengthwise movement of the pocket, each member being provided at an end with a laterally disposed apertured lobe, the lobes of the two members being arranged in parallel spaced relation with each other; and means adapted to engage both of said lobes to exert pressure on said members in opposite directions and whereby the cooperating tapered flanges of the members and upper and lower walls of the pocket will cause said members to move toward the inner side of the pocket.

3. In a brake hanger retainer of the character described, a pair of complemental members each member being grooved lengthwise of its face to receive a brake hanger and each member intermediate of its ends being provided with a lug receiving socket, while one end of each member is provided with a laterally disposed apertured lobe extending substantially at right angles to the direction of the grooves, and means adapted to extend through the apertures in said lobes and to force said members in opposite directions.

4. A brake hanger retainer of the character described, comprising, in combination with a truck frame having a horizontally disposed pocket open at the ends andone side, the upper and lower walls of the pocket on their opposing faces having tapered flanges, the taper of the flange of the upper wall being in a direction opposite to the taper of the flange on the lower wall, one of said walls being provided with a lug; a pair of complemental members adapted to be superposed in said pocket, each member being grooved lengthwise with the groove of the one matching the groove of the other member to combinedly provide a hanger-receiving channel, each mem ber on its outer surface being socketed to register with and to receive the lug in said pocket and thereby hold the member against movement lengthwise of the pocket, said members along one longitudinal side having laterally disposed tapered flanges adapted to coact with the tapered flanges on the upper and the lower walls of said pocket, each member on its flanged side being provided with a laterally disposed apertured lobe; and means adapted to cooperate with the apertured lobes of the two members whereby the cooperating tapered flanges cause said members to move toward the rear side of said pocket.

5. A brake hanger retainer of the character described comprising, in combination with the hanger receiving socket on the truck frame whose walls are provided with tapered surfacesf a pair of complementary members formed to provide a hanger receiving channel when said members are arranged in superposed relation in said socket, said members being provided with surfaces adapted to cooperate with the tapered surfaces on the walls of said socket and thereby eflect a binding relation between the members and the walls of said socket, and adjustable means whereby the superposed relation between the members is controlled.

6. A brake hanger retainer of the character described comprising, in combination with a truck frame provided with a hanger receiving socket, a pair of complementary members formed to provide a hanger receiving channel when arranged in superposed relation in said socket, the socket walls and said members having coacting surfaces whereby the members are wedged toward the inner side of the socket when the members are forced longitudinally in opposite directions, and adjustable means operatively associated with both of said members for controlling the superposed relation of said members.

7. A brake hanger retainer comprising, in combination with a truck frame provided with asocket open at the ends and at one side, with the upper and lower walls of the socket having surfaces tapering transversely of the socket, a pair of complemental members adapted to be arranged in said socket and each having a groove disposed lengthwise, the groove of the one member corresponding to the groove of the other member to provide a hanger receiving channel, the members having tapering surfaces adapted to cooperate with the tapering surfaces in the socket of the truck frame, each member at one end being provided with a laterally disposed lobe extending substantially at right angles to the direction of the channel, and means adapted to cooperate with the lobes of both members to exert pressure on said members in opposite directions whereby the tapered surfaces in the socket and of the members cause the latter to be forced toward the inner side of the socket.

8. A brake hanger retainer comprising, in combination with a truck frame having a socket open at the ends and at one side with the upper and lower walls of the socket having surfaces tapering transversely of the socket and one wall of the socket provided with a boss, a pair of complemental members adapted to be arranged in superposed relation, the opposing faces of the members being grooved to combinedly provide a hanger receiving channel and having tapering surfaces adapted to cooperate with the tapering surfaces in the socket of the truck frame, the members having flanges disposed beyond one of the longitudinal sides and provided with sockets corresponding with the boss on the wall of the socket, the flanged sides of the members being provided with apertured lobes, and means adapted to extend through the apertures of the lobes of both members to exert pressure on said members in opposite directions.

MALCOLM S. JOHNSON. 

